represent - valpo chamber · affair. “my son and husband are very supportive and accompany me on...

VOL. 19 ISSUE 1 | WINTER 2018

JUDITH NEVILLEOwner, Gratz Opus 118

REPRESENT at All Levels of Leadership

VALPOWOMEN

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A PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER VALPARAISO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE162 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383Phone (219) 462-1105, Fax (219) [email protected]

GREATER VALPARAISO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Rex G. Richards, CCE, PresidentJulie Gaskell, Executive Vice PresidentDanielle Oeding, Vice President, Sales & MarketingKurt Gillins, Vice President, Programs & CommunicationsChristine Pazdur, Chief Financial OfficerSue Stymiest, Resource Director

VALPARAISO MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER Rex G. Richards, CCE

EDITOR Kurt Gillins

SALES Danielle Oeding

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Kre-Eight Design Marketing

FEATURE WRITING Amanda Wilson

COVER/FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY Aran Kessler Photo.Imaging

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NEW MEMBER INVESTORS>> New Board-approved members PAGE 18

CHAMBER FOCUS>> Salute to LeadershipPAGE 20

BUSINESS SNAPSHOTSPAGE 24

MEMBER INVESTORANNIVERSARIESPAGE 27

AROUND TOWN>> Local Business NewsPAGE 30

A LOOK BACK>> From Valparaiso’s Memorial Opera House to HollywoodPAGE 34

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTPAGE 37

OUR CORNER>> Keeping the Money LocalPAGE 38

SECTIONS...COVER PAGE 4

CONTENTS | WINTER 2018

Valparaiso Magazine circulates 18,000 copies per issue by direct mail to all businesses, and, on a rotating basis, to most households in the 46383, 46384, and 46385 zip codes.

ValpoChamber.org

TO SUBMIT AROUND TOWN ENTRIES: call (219) 462-1105 or send to [email protected], Attn: Editor

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: call (219) 462-1105, Attn: Danielleor [email protected]

FEAT

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A VOICE AT THE TABLE PAGE 12

WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMENPAGE 16


VALPOWOMEN

For many generations, women’s progress meant incremental access to token roles of influence and power. From business owners to doctors, managers to entrepreneurs, key leadership positions were reserved for the few and exceptional. Progress in the 21st century means that seeing a “Ms.” in a leader’s title no longer causes a pause or a second glance. Valparaiso’s women influencers and innovators prove that leadership is a gifting that transcends gender. >>

4 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

By Amanda Wilson


VALPOWOMEN

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JUDITH NEVILLE AND EMPLOYEES OF GRATZ OPUS 118


>> VALPO WOMEN REPRESENT AT ALL LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP

Julia Hess, CFO of UFS Corporation, a Valparaiso manufacturer of electrocoating equipment whose clients include major industrial leaders such as Toyota and John Deere, recalls the popularity of books that instructed women on how to “dress for success.” Thankfully, women’s access to opportunity no longer depends on a knack for style, she says. For women in leadership positions, “it isn’t about whether women can be stylish. You see women in a variety of areas of business who are able to perform what’s required of them.” Hess acknowledges that the manufacturing industry is still dominated by men and that in many settings a woman is still an anomaly. She worked in a variety of industries, including sales and nonprofit, before joining her husband, UFS Corporation president, H Frederick Hess III, at UFS Corporation. “I joined UFS Corporation on a temporary basis and I still haven’t left. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me, and it’s reassuring for my husband to know that I’m handling the financial and human resources end of the business.”

Hess describes her role as providing the essential backbone of keeping the company running. “I’m not the face of the company. My role is to make sure that the business is profitable; I keep much of the business running so my husband can concentrate on engineering and support. I also oversee corporate responsibility and ensure that our employees are well cared for.” Though Hess works in an industry that is still predominantly male-dominated, she credits her parents with instilling confidence in her to eschew gender stereotypes and follow her dreams.

“I graduated in 1980 when there wasn’t a strong presence of women leaders, but my parents never restricted me with the limits sometimes placed on females. They told me, ‘the sky’s the limit. Go for it’.”

Judith Neville, who, along with her husband, David, owns Gratz Opus 118,

stresses that it’s important for women leaders to have confidence in their abilities and vision as there are those who still have trouble perceiving women as equipped to lead. “People will try to put you in the category where they want you and, as a woman, that can make you second guess yourself. But, if you’re made to do something you’re made to use that gifting.” For Neville and her husband, helping people recognize, embrace, and use their unique gifts is the mission of their ministry, Neville Ministries Incorporated, a mission which is at the foundation of Gratz Opus 118, too. “I’ve always wanted to go into business and to own a music studio, to have a place where people can be the best they can be and express their giftings.” She says the music store fits perfectly

JULIA HESS, UFS CORPORATION

ValpoChamber.org 7 ValpoChamber.org 7

into David’s and her mission, and that the retail end of the store was a sweet part of the deal.

The Nevilles took advantage of the opportunity to obtain a sheet music store and bought Gratz Piano from the Gratz family in 2015. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano performance, experience teaching music at the Wirt-Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts in Gary and at Valparaiso University, and a business background from having

worked in commercial lending, Neville says that “everything fell into place” when they purchased the studio. Neville knew Mike Gratz in the mid-1990s when she was a music teacher at Valparaiso University. They kept the Gratz name since people associated the name with music, she says, and Opus 118 comes from the designated piano piece she learned in college. “The piece opened my eyes to music making. That’s where I found that God was in the notes, and that’s what I want for my students and customers. That’s what this is

all about, to lead them to that place, and that’s what drives me in my job, teaching, and ministry.”

Helping people find beauty in their surroundings is the lifeblood of Floylice Lawnicki’s blog “Flo’s Favorites: Eat, Play, and Stay in the Midwest,” which celebrates cuisine, entertainment, and all that is delightful along Lake Michigan’s coastline. Lawnicki launched her blog last February to encourage people to be tourists in their own cities, she says. Lawnicki resides in Chesterton but works as a paralegal in Chicago, and discovered that misperceptions abound on both sides of the border. “I found myself correcting misperceptions of Northwest Indiana. And, Chicago also has its share of misperceptions from those outside of the city. In my blog, I provide a glimpse into different cities and businesses.” Her blog, she says, isn’t just something she’s writing. It’s comprised of what she’s actually doing, and she encourages her readers to likewise experience all that the region has to offer. As a wife, mother, paralegal, and blogger, Lawnicki juggles many roles. But, she says, her blog offers the opportunity to blend her roles because it’s a family affair. “My son and husband are very supportive and accompany me on many of my adventures.”

Family was the impetus for Krystal Ketchem’s foray into lice eradication and education. Ketchem, mother of four daughters and owner of Lice Perspectives, recalls her family’s nightmare experience when her children caught lice. “It was the most stressful, frustrating, and embarrassing time of my life.” Like much of the general population, even those in the medical industry, the veteran healthcare assistant believed inaccurate and misguided “truths” about lice. “I thought my daughters would never catch head lice because of the stigma >>

“…my parents never restricted me with the limits sometimes placed on females. They told me ‘the sky’s the limit’.” —Julia Hess

FLOYLICE LAWNICKI, FLO’S FAVORITES: EAT, PLAY, AND STAY IN THE MIDWEST


>> XXX

associated with it. But, it affects people from every social class; they’re all struggling with it. I’ve been in the healthcare field for about 10 years and all of the head lice information I was taught and learned along the way was inaccurate.”

After experiencing firsthand that the available prescription and over-the-counter head lice shampoos and remedies were inadequate, Ketchem was determined to offer a better way. Trained by a top U.S. specialist, she became a certified head lice educator and treatment provider and started offering in-home treatments while working full-time in a pediatric care office. In June 2017, she opened Lice Perspectives. “I’ve built my business on

what I would want as a mom. We are proud to use only non-toxic, pesticide-free solutions and get out all evidence in just one visit. We also provide a free optional follow-up appointment for the parent’s peace of mind.” Ketchem is also passionate about education and clearing up misperceptions, such as the common misperception that you have to sterilize or use some kind of “bug bomb” if family members have lice (“they’re on your head, not in your house”). “My mission is to restore peace in the household and relieve the stress that comes with battling head lice.”

Mission forms the foundation of Aftermath Cidery and Winery. The best success stories often evolve from unexpected detours, and Nicole Caylor’s original plans to go to medical school were derailed when she had a heart attack in 2010 while in training in the Army Reserves. After her heart attack, Caylor went back to work for previous employer State Farm but she recalls wanting to do more, something bigger that involved a way of giving back. Her first ambition was to open a gym, but Caylor’s cousin, Walt – who already owned wineries in Pennsylvania – talked her into opening a winery in Northwest Indiana. It was a perfect match, Caylor says. “Walt knows wineries, and I know marketing, sales, and business strategy.”

In 2014, they established an LLC with Running Vines in Chesterton, which was followed a year later by Aftermath Cidery and Winery in Valparaiso. Aftermath specializes in hard cider, and Caylor says the first branded wine will be offered this summer. From the

start, business has been about more than making a profit; it’s about giving back. “Our mission statement is that, like a vine and its branches, we’re intertwined with the local community.” A percentage of proceeds from both Running Vines and Aftermath go towards nonprofit organizations. Running Vines donated proceeds typically go to organizations focused on healthy living and athletics while Aftermath’s donated proceeds go to disaster relief. While donations are typically focused locally, Aftermath’s donated proceeds recently went to the American Red Cross for assistance in relief and recovery from these past summer’s hurricanes. The disaster relief theme is reflected in the ciders themselves, which are named after storms.

Storms shatter communities, but shattered stereotypes and obstacles provide women with expanded avenues and access to leadership. Hess says that the perception of women leaders is changing. “Forty years ago, pejoratives were used for assertive women who displayed traits that were applauded in their male counterparts. I think that’s changed, whether it’s the women’s movement or a changing of the guard. There’s an increasing recognition of women equipped to lead as being on par or better than men.” She points out, however, that she’d like to see leadership as gender, culturally, racially, and ethnically neutral, so that people are judged and evaluated by their capabilities. When these old categories fall away it provides freedom for all to follow their passions. “In 1980, you didn’t see many male nurses or male owners of salons. Passion and opportunities are no longer restricted by gender.”

Though leadership is a gifting that goes beyond gender, some argue that women generally possess unique qualities as leaders. Many of those unique qualities are based on experiences typical to women, such as women’s traditional primary caretaker roles.

>> VALPO WOMEN REPRESENT AT ALL LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP

“Our mission statement is that, like a vine and its branches, we’re intertwined with the local community.” —Nicole Caylor

ValpoChamber.org 9

Ketchem says that her experience as a mom influences how she does business and treats her customers. “I designed Lice Perspectives as a ‘mom’ to serve ‘moms and their families’.’’ Caylor, the youngest of five in what she proudly describes as a strong, Italian family, saw her mom successfully balance motherhood and business ownership. “My mom was a great example of leadership. It made for a natural, easy transition for me. It also helps that my husband has always been my biggest cheerleader.”

Unique qualities that enhance leadership are often those that used to be criticized as “girly,” like compassion. Caylor says, “I joke about not letting my feelings get in the way, but it’s good to bring feelings to the table, particularly compassion. I’m all for compassion. When I worked at State Farm, they were compassionate about my having a young son at home. I brought

that to my company. We all dive in and help, together.” Neville says that the combination of many women’s nurturing instincts along with a unique combination of tenacity and flexibility lends itself well to leadership. “We are nurturers and we stick with things, but we’ll change course if something isn’t working.”

Lawnicki says that women typically have an innate ability to multitask, and “though it can work against us we’re a force when we do it right.” The community of women leaders in Valparaiso is a force indeed. “Community is the key word, as in community over competition. When I speak to women business owners in Valparaiso, they always talk about how supportive other businesses are. They make room for everyone. It’s why Valparaiso is such a successful community.”

“I designed Lice Perspectives as a ‘mom’ to serve ‘moms and their families’.” — Krystal Ketchem

NICOLE CAYLOR,AFTERMATH CIDERY & WINERY

KRYSTAL KETCHEM, LICE PERSPECTIVES


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Since ancient times, women have been nurturers serving as family and community caretakers and healers. But, decision-making and expertise status in clinics and boardrooms have traditionally been allocated to the men – doctors and executive leaders – at the top, leaving women to serve solely in support roles.

Modern healthcare is gradually becoming less lopsided as increasing numbers of men move into essential supporting roles and women provide leadership on the hospital floor, in the clinic, and in the boardroom. We talked to a few local women health care leaders – Beth Wrobel, CEO of HealthLinc; Janice Ryba, CEO of St. Mary Medical Center; and Sherry Sink, Indiana regional sales manager of business development for Superior Ambulance Service - about how these evolving roles are changing the face of healthcare for providers, patients, and the surrounding community.

How have things changed for women in the healthcare industry?“The roles of women have changed drastically, with top levels opening up for women thanks to increased levels of and access to education and training,” Sink says. “EMS (Emergency Medical Services) was associated with the fire service and traditionally a male profession. At Superior, we have three female operations managers.” Family-owned Superior Ambulance Service, founded in 1959, is the largest privately-held ambulance company in the U.S. with over 2,200 employees and locations in

Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Superior moves some 2,000 patients a day. Not just a transferring service, Superior offers different levels of care including basic life support, advanced life support, critical care transport, and air (helicopter) rescue.

HealthLinc, which provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and eye care services, has 10 clinics serving the uninsured and underinsured throughout Northwest Indiana. HealthLinc has a high percentage of women health care providers, Wrobel says. “HealthLinc is largely women-led. Seventy-five percent of our employees are women. This differs from hospitals where, for the most part, it’s not female led.” Wrobel has been with HealthLinc since it was Hilltop Community Health Center, a one-location clinic, and has seen it grow from two employees (she notes she was employee number two) to 280. The organization once saw 100 patients a month and now sees 10,000 patients a month, she says.

Ryba points out that women are gaining ground in healthcare positions overall and in leadership positions in healthcare. Eighty percent of healthcare workers on average are women, she says, with 40 percent working at the executive level. “Thirty-nine percent of Indiana physicians are female, which is higher than the national average of 36 percent. It’s pretty amazing when you consider that before Title Nine, in the 1940s and ‘50s, women made up just six percent of the workforce. Women are a large part of the workforce and are well respected at St. Mary’s.”

By Amanda Wilson

A VOICE at the TABLE

By Amanda Wilson

ValpoChamber.org 13

Ryba, who has been CEO of St. Mary Medical Center for 10 years, worked in the Community Healthcare System for over 30 years in various management and leadership roles. “St. Mary’s stands out because of our strong quality of service, sustained performance, and because we focus on service and quality. St. Mary’s feels like a family. Our teams work together, and the patients are in a welcoming environment where they know they’ll be well taken care of.”

What challenges remain for women who work in, and lead, healthcare organizations?Though attitudes, perceptions, and opportunities for women in healthcare continue to evolve, challenges remain. Wrobel says, “I do see a stigma against women leaders, which makes me want to work harder.” However, Wrobel’s experience is that gaining people’s confidence will erase doubts about your leadership qualifications regardless of whether you’re a man or woman. “With my mechanical engineering background, I’m used to being the lone female. I’ve been lucky in having mentors and trusted

co-workers, who encouraged me to be my best, utilizing my talents versus whether I was male or female.”

Ryba says the bar for women leaders is set higher. “There’s not much room for error to earn respect. Everyone is watching. A high level of competency with humility is essential.” She stresses that she feels valued and respected at St. Mary’s.

“Management levels for women are increasing, and even though there may be obstacles to obtaining them having the right education and qualifications help in overcoming them,” Sink says. “I don’t think women are plagued by low expectations. Much of it comes down to obtaining higher levels of education so that we can be recognized for and more widely accepted in leadership roles.”

What advice would you offer to women seeking to grow professionally?

Almost every success story involves mentorship. “Finding individuals to mentor you is essential,” says Ryba. Wrobel agrees, and says, “I’ve worked hard to build a system of mentors. And, I’m good at finding the right people to work for me. You’re only as good as the people who work for you and the people you look up to.” Ryba says, “When I’m mentoring, I focus on key

competencies and encourage those I’m mentoring to take

advantage of opportunities.”

What was traditionally called “bossiness” in women leaders is the

key quality of assertiveness, says Ryba, and it’s important not to allow fear of the

“bossy” label to silence you. “In my experience, if you’re not type A, you won’t succeed. Strive for excellence, maintain a high level of accountability, and get your voice heard. You have a voice at the table.”

Assertiveness, however, does not negate the value of servant leadership. Wrobel says true leadership is seeking to serve as opposed to seeking to be revered. “When you try to be in the limelight, things go south.” And, she offers the comforting wisdom that success favors integrity. “If you keep your eye on the end result and you do the right thing, the rest will follow.”

SHERRY SINK, SUPERIOR AMBULANCE

JANICE RYBA, ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER


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WomenEMPOWERING

Women

Women typically provide the foundational support for families, businesses, charities, and the very fabric of our society. But, like the foundation of the buildings that house our places of business and residence, the essential is often invisible and women’s needs too often go unacknowledged and unaddressed. Women-focused organizations such as the Valparaiso Woman’s Association, Women in Bloom and Business Women United Network support and aid local women with needed resources, encouragement, and empowerment.

Just as she empowers her small business owner clients to run their businesses efficiently and ethically through her law practice, Angela Crossin empowers local girls and women to flourish professionally and personally. In 2009, she founded Women In Bloom, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower girls and women between the ages of 14 and 22 - women veterans, professionals, and those lacking resources - “to achieve strength, independence, and purpose in life.” Crossin also oversees Business Women United Network, an organization comprised of business women from throughout Northwest Indiana.

Women face tremendous pressure from societal expectations to balance domestic and professional roles. This balancing act can

lead to exhaustion and unhappiness, especially when women are hesitant to acknowledge feeling overwhelmed or to ask for help. “I believe women need women and we are afraid to pull our masks down and ask for help,” Crossin says. “Women In Bloom and Business Women United Network, as well as other similarly situated organizations, are or should be designed to empower women and provide resources that allow them to succeed in their various roles.” She says these various roles – including homemaker, partner, mom,

volunteer, and professional – don’t need to conflict with one another, but they can lead to inner conflict when women feel pressured to fulfill them perfectly at the same time, all the time, without any help. “Our organizations are specifically

focused on bringing balance to women in their work and home lives. Whether it’s mentoring, hand-holding, peer-to-peer advice, or bonding, we foster relationship-building and utilizing the strength and interconnectivity of similarly situated women. We do not focus on just business; rather, we focus on mind, body, spirit, and business. We want women to succeed.”

Many women face major obstacles and setbacks on the road to success, and the Valparaiso Woman’s Association helps women

“...we focus on mind, body, spirit, and business.

We want women to succeed.”—Angela Crossin

By Amanda Wilson

ANGELA CROSSIN, WOMEN IN BLOOM & BUSINESS WOMEN UNITED NETWORK

11 ValpoChamber.org 17

who lack support, financial independence, as well as legal and addiction issues. “We help women who’ve fallen through the cracks get back on their feet,” says Dana Samardzich, certified life coach, and membership chair and board member of the Valparaiso Woman’s Association. Samardzich says she was inspired to join the organization a year ago at a Christmas lunch. “I talked to tenants with different education levels and different backgrounds, women who’ve had more than enough issues but not enough support and ended up here. Their stories moved me to get involved and help.”

What started out as a book club in the late 1800s now provides scholarships for local college-bound youth and boarding for women facing challenges who are in need of a place to stay. Samardzich says some women come directly to the organization but most are referred by local social service agencies and therapists. Those seeking assistance fill out an application and interview with the organization’s therapist.

Samardzich stresses that the societal mindset associating seeking and accepting assistance with weakness is not only wrong but harmful,

especially to women because women make up a disproportionate number of the most underserved and vulnerable groups in society. “No one is meant to be an island. Even back in the cavemen days they realized that groups have a better chance of survival than individuals going it alone. That need for connection is hard-wired.”

Although there are few remaining organizations which explicitly exclude women, both Crossin and Samardzich say women-focused organizations are key in helping women thrive in what is still largely a male-dominated society. “Organizations with men tend to have different mindsets and environments –think of the common phrases ‘be a man’ and ‘man up’ – depending on the ratio of men and women in them,” says Samardzich. “Oftentimes, women feel more free to express themselves, to laugh, cry, and be loud, in women’s organizations. It fights the temptation women have to censor themselves in groups with men.”

And, in women’s organizations, women can encourage each other to lose negative, socially conditioned ways of interacting with fellow women. Crossin says of the organizations she oversees, “We make an upfront statement that we do not tolerate ‘stabbing in the back’ and we encourage ‘stabbing in the front,’ or authentic conversations.” Yet, she says, hurt feelings and disappointments happen, but she leads by example of going above offense. “I believe when you are in a leadership position you have to swear an oath of offense to yourself: ‘I will not take offense.’ My mission is bigger than making myself happy. It is about leaving a mark in some small way that has advanced the cause of women, and I simply can’t take offense for too long. I know there are women who need me, who need us, out there and we have to focus on that.”

In the last fifty years, we’ve lost many of our strong community groups and big support networks, Samardzich says, and media messages are overwhelmingly disempowering. Women of all ages, from every social class, face obstacles on the path to personal and professional fulfillment. “We’re all facing these challenges, and we have to get back to what’s important which includes support systems and strong communities of women empowering other women.”

Flo’s Favorites

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“We’re all facing these challenges, and we have to get back to what’s important... women empowering other women.”

—Dana Samardzich

DANA SAMARDZICH, VALPARAISO WOMAN’S

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Aseracare Hospice808 Vale Park Rd462-6398Jodi PayneHealthcare & Home Health ServicesHospicewww.aseracare.comOur mission at Aseracare Hospice is to share our passion for improving quality of life through innovative healthcare, one person, one family, and one community at a time.

Aster + Gray20 Indiana Ave, Ste A510-1114Gabrielle PazourRetail StoresAster + Gray is a boutique filled with a unique mix of one-of-a-kind home decor, accessories, gifts, and so much more!

Baki LLC786 McCool Rd, Ste 6, 46385574-339-5186Dr. Husam BakiPhysicians/SurgeonsDr. Baki is an allergy and asthma specialist, serving pediatric & adult patients.

Bushel & a Peck Consignment Shoppe1121 Calumet Ave260-348-2619Linda KartjeFurniturewww.bushelandapeckconsignmentshoppe.comThis furniture consignment shop also sells gift items, lamps, household goods and décor.

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Coach USA Indiana2101 W 37th Ave, Gary, 46408884-0054Dave BeatonTransportation Serviceswww.coachusa.comWe operate a coach charter business in Gary, Indiana and surrounding areas. We also operate the Airport Supersaver service from Valparaiso to Midway/O’Hare airports.

Coffee Cup Snuggler363-2215Roger PhelpsPromotional/Specialty Productswww.coffeecupsnuggler.comOur hard foam covers for coffee cups are adjustable to most coffee mug sizes. We can also print logos and personalize the outer shell.

College of Court Reporting455 W Lincolnway, 46385531-6122Nicky RodriquezSchools/Educationwww.ccr.eduThe mission of the College of Court Reporting is to provide state-of-the-art instructional systems, technologies, and quality teaching techniques to educate students in the fields of realtime captioning & court reporting in an online environment.

The Course at Aberdeen245 Tower Rd, 46385462-5050John PatzwaldGolf Courses/Country Clubswww.golfataberdeen.comConsistently rated among the best golf courses in northwest Indiana and Greater South Bend Michigan, the Course at Aberdeen offers 18 player-friendly holes with top notch service.

Creating Smiles, PC2262 Morthland Dr462-1970Dr. Scott KapersDentistswww.creatingsmilespc.comPreventative dentistry for the whole family including cosmetic, sedation and implant dentistry. We have offices in Valparaiso and St. John.

Dunes Family Clinic, LLC2005 Valparaiso St, Ste 210877-880-7993Dr. Juana Ambriz de WilliamsMedicalwww.dunesfamilyclinic.comA Direct Primary Care (DPC) clinic offering convenient quality and unlimited primary care and psychiatric care for an affordable monthly membership fee.

Furin Japanese Restaurant21 Lincolnway286-6648Danny WangRestaurantsFull service restaurant specializing in sushi, ramen, Yakisoba, and udon. We also have a full bar.

Journey Senior Living74 E Journey Way707-8474Laura CarpenterNursing Homes/Assisted Livingwww.jsl-v.comJourney Senior Living develops beautiful senior living communities that provide exceptional service in a loving and caring environment, where the focus is on enhancing the lives of our residents and their families.

Keys Counseling259 Indiana Ave229-5132Conrad AngonCounseling ServicesKeys Counseling is an innovative community mental health agency dedicated to empowering and uplifting children and families in need. We treat children involved in CHINS and/or the JD/JS system, with the goals of community safety, improvement of social behavior and emotional healing.

KIS Branded Specialties9039 W 200 S, La Porte, 46350785-3218Ray ToppenPromotional/Specialty Productswww.kisbranded.comKIS Branded Specialties is a premier consultant & supplier of decorated apparel and promotional >>

products located in Northwest Indiana. We are a proud licensed supplier to Valparaiso University, Purdue University, and University of Notre Dame.

La Porte County Symphony Orchestra307 Kingsbury Ave, La Porte 46350362-9020Nanda DanitschekMusicwww.lcso.netLCSO is a professional orchestra focused on building community by making a Foundation Around Community Engagement, or FACE! Whether visiting schools, libraries, retirement homes, or respite villages, LCSO is committed to reaching those most vulnerable in the community through the power of the arts. The symphony’s season concerts boast innovative programming meant to spark the imagination of ALL audience members.

Matron Health786 McCool Rd, 46385844-457-8503Melissa GrcichHealth & Wellness Products & Serviceswww.matronhealth.comWe offer direct primary care services, for a $50.00 monthly fee for unlimited access to provider. Includes treatments, counseling, women’s health, access to discounted labs, and home visits when needed.

McConnell Consulting13 E Lincolnway, Ste 300281-9514Sean McConnell, PhD.Schools/EducationOur services are focused on grad/med school admissions consulting as well as assisting with GRE/MCAT test preparation. We have university level tutors, and operate by appointment only.

Momentum Solutions, LLC728-8216Brian DonnellyConsultantswww.purposeatwork.netAs a professional EOS implementor, we help leaders get what they want from their businesses, by >>

NEW MEMBERS >> >> NEW MEMBER INVESTORS


providing a complete system and simple tools that help achieve Vision, Traction, Health.

One Center Street, LLC1150 W Lincolnway, 46385477-7526Walt BreitingerReal Estate-Commercial LeasingWe have space to lease for offices and workshops, as well as studios for the visual and performing arts.

Paychex902-6322Gojko PamucarPayroll Processingwww.linkedin.com/in/gojkopamucarPaychex is committed to helping your business succeed. When your small business works with us, you’ll get expert, one-on-one payroll support from your dedicated Paychex team. We are service-focused and we will customize to meet your unique needs.

Prime Real Estate212 Lincolnway462-7177Ken WilliamsReal Estate-CommercialWilliams specializes in commercial real estate space.

Promo Providers157 Ridgeview Dr, 46385248-756-3038Tom DozoisPromotional/Specialty Productswww.promoproviders.comWe started PromoProviders in 2003 as a father & son team with a strong dedication to personal service and branding. Focusing on these two vital tenets has allowed us to successfully build our company.

Radius15 E Lincolnway299-2551Chris PavlouRestaurantsOpen seven days a week, we offer gourmet burgers, sandwich & dinner menu alongside refreshing & innovative cocktails, weekly live entertainment, and daily specials. Open for lunch and dinner with full bar service.

Rosati’s Pizza2160 W Morthland Dr, 46385510-5659Darin A. JacobsRestaurantswww.rosatispizza.comWe are open for lunch and dinner, serving pizza, Italian Beef and salads, made fresh daily. You can pick-up, carry out or dine in.

Sam Allie State Farm3534 N Calumet Ave663-8799Sam AllieInsurancewww.samallie.comState Farm provides insurance in the form of auto, home, life, health, & business products along with financial services including auto loans, mortgages, & lines of credit.

Sibo & Associates, LLC299-2754Thomas S. Sibo, CPA, ABVAccountants/Tax Serviceswww.siboassociates.comSibo & Associates, LLC is a professional services firm providing accounting, finance (CFO for-hire), advisory, income tax, & business appraisal services to businesses & people in Northwest Indiana and the Greater Chicagoland area.

South Shore Chamber Orchestra928-8192Pete BrannenMusicwww.southshoreorchestra.netThe South Shore Orchestra is an auditioned orchestra committed to bringing musicians, audiences, and communities to advance enjoyment & appreciation of orchestra music throughout the South Shore region. South Shore Orchestra is the orchestra in residence at Memorial Opera House and performs concerts and fundraising events several times per year.

Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY)233 E 84th Dr, Ste 205, Merrillville, 46410472-2062Alyssa ChirchSocial Services Agencieswww.safy.org >>

SAFY is a private nonprofit agency whose mission is to preserve families & secure futures of at risk youth & families. SAFY of Indiana’s Therapeutic Foster Care or treatment foster care places youth in need of treatment level care in a supportive, family, environment.

Sta-Glam Makeup & Beauty Bar1105 Calumet Ave508-2600Carrie HrehaSalons/Spaswww.sta-glam.comSta-Glam specializes in “luxury on location” airbrush makeup for bridal & special events. We also offer facials, chemical peels, dermaplaning, waxing, lash extensions, eyelash lift & tints, airbrush makeup in studio and makeup lessons.

StoryPoint of Chesterton700 Dickinson Rd, Chesterton 46304263-9383Judy KukelkaRetirement Communitieswww.storypoint.comStoryPoint is Northwest Indiana’s premier independent living community. We designed our community as a place where people can live better than anywhere else. It’s not just a place to live, it’s a place to brag about living. It is a place where an executive chef creates bold, flavorful, gourmet meals on a daily basis & a place full of enough health & wellness to keep you physically fit & mentally active.

Studly Duckling Customs242-4475AJ WilliamsHome ImprovementValparaiso-based carpentry business, family owned, specializing in remodeling & home improvement.

Town Square Publications155 E Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005847-427-4905John DussmanPrinters/Publisherswww.townsquarepublications.com >>

Town Square Publications develops partnerships by producing high quality print & digitally integrated publication for local chambers of commerce.

Toys in the Attic74 W Lincolnway477-1770Chris ReddickToysWe focus on kid-powered toys and games that promote free play, strategy, and imagination. We focus on toys, games and retro fun.

Valparaiso Woman’s Association102 Washington St462-3876Dana SamardzichSchools/EducationValparaiso Woman’s Association is an organization of women, committed to promoting, supporting, & advancing education, social welfare, & charitable causes in Valparaiso.

Wells Fargo Advisors8585 Broadway, Ste 800, Merrillville 46410314-369-7888Jeff FernandezFinancial Advisorswww.home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/jeffrey.fernandezRelationships and focusing on what’s best for the client is an essential part of my character. I believe my profession is about making a difference in people’s lives, helping them achieve their life goals and listening to them to truly understand and appreciate their needs.

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NEW MEMBERS >> The Valpo Chamber welcomes board-approved new members who joined during September, October and November 2017.All addresses are in the 46383 zip code and phone numbers are 219 area code unless otherwise indicated.

Interested in joining the largest and most active chamber in Northwest Indiana?

Contact Danielle Oeding at (219) 462-1105 or [email protected].


>> CHAMBER FOCUSSalute to Leadership

>> CHAMBER FOCUS | SALUTE TO LEADERSHIP

“It’s important to give back, but also to give forward to the people that are yet to come that we don’t even know that we’re going to touch. We are always looking ahead to make sure tomorrow is better than today.”

—Beth Wrobel, CEOHealthLinc, Inc.

ValpoChamber.org 21

>> CHAMBER FOCUSSalute to Leadership

SALUTE TOLEADERSHIPOnce a year, the Valpo Chamber recognizes the accomplishments of business leaders who embody a spirit of selfless dedication to the community. This year, Beth Wrobel, CEO of HealthLinc, Inc., will receive the 2017 Distinguished Community Leader award. Joanne Urschel, former psychology professor at IUN and PNC, will receive the 2017 Legacy of Service award. The recipients of both these awards were nominated by their peers.

BETH WROBEL2017 Distinguished Community Leader

The Distinguished Community Leader Award is the highest recognition the Chamber confers on an individual member of the business community. Recipients have demonstrated leadership, active involvement in the greater Valparaiso business community, reputation among business leaders, success in promoting business and industry development, overall contribution to the community and its quality of life, and professional activities.

Born in Baltimore, Beth Wrobel moved to nearby Naperville, Illinois just before starting middle school. Upon graduating high school, she attended Valparaiso University to study mechanical engineering. Other than a brief hiatus when Wrobel lived in Griffith, she has spent over 30 years living in Valparaiso. Married for 38 years, Wrobel and her husband, Joe, have three grown sons- Chris, Tom, and David.

After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from VU, Wrobel went on to work for NIPSCO and NiSource for nearly 22 years. It was at this point that Wrobel’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Facing a difficult decision, Wrobel decided to leave her job to become her father’s caretaker during his time of great need. “I came to the realization that I didn’t have much time left with my father, and it was best spent with him.” Looking back now,

Wrobel realizes that the time spent caring for her father was the turning point in her career that eventually led to her entrance into the health care field.

While taking business classes at VU, Wrobel was approached by a colleague, asking if she would be interested in running a new health clinic, called Hilltop Community Health Center, at the time. After careful consideration, Wrobel accepted the challenge and has been CEO of HealthLinc for almost 16 years. She attributes this long, successful career to her staff. “I can’t say enough how amazing the staff has been, and they are the reason I have been able to do this.” With her staff, Wrobel has been able to revolutionize the way the clinic approaches healthcare, leading to greater benefits for their patients. “We’ve proven that the way we approach healthcare has led to better outcomes and better health for our patients. That’s the fun part. This is my passion. This isn’t just the place I get a paycheck.”

Along with her professional successes, Wrobel remains civically involved in the community, as well. She has been active in and served on the board for several organizations, including the Salvation Army, the Porter County United Way, the Valparaiso Human Relations Council, the Indiana Cancer Consortium, the Indiana Graduate Medical Education Board, the Indiana Primary Health Care Association board, and the Valparaiso Rotary, where she also served as President. She believes that giving back to the community is about more than just helping people in the present. “It’s important to give

back, but also to give forward to the people that are yet to come that we don’t even know that we’re going to touch. We are always looking ahead to make sure tomorrow is better than today.”

Wrobel is truly humbled to be receiving this award, as it reminds her of the impact she and her staff have on the community. “When you are in the middle of your work, you don’t always see the impact you’re making, and this kind of brings me back to reality. We have made an impact.” To accept this award, however, she insists on crediting the many people who help and encourage her daily. “It’s my name on it, but I could not do the things I do without my family or everyone at work. I’ve been really blessed to have a great family. My husband’s a saint and my kids have put up with so many things. The staff here- they drive me, they complement me, they are an amazing group.”

JOANNE URSCHEL2017 Legacy of Service

The Legacy of Service Award recognizes individuals in the community who, over time or under extraordinary circumstances, have given service to the community above and beyond what is expected in their profession. Recipients have created a legacy of community service and serve as an example for others to emulate.

Joanne Urschel has spent nearly her entire life in Valparaiso. Born and raised in Valpo, she lived briefly in Alexandria, Virginia >>

By Brianna Reeves


while her husband, Dan, was stationed with the Army and Terre Haute while she worked on her PhD. Joanne and Dan have been married for 55 years and have two children, Mark and Danielle, and four grandchildren.

Taking a less traditional route, Urschel waited until her children were both in school to pursue a college degree. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Valparaiso University and her master’s degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago. After working at VU for 4 years, she temporarily moved to Terre Haute, on her own, to work on her PhD, which she received at the age of 52. “I’ve always been a great supporter of non-traditional students. One of my thoughts is, you’re going to get a year older anyway, so you might as well learn something along the way.” Following her return to Valparaiso, she taught at both IUN and PNC before retiring after 13 years of teaching psychology and gender studies.

Urschel can recall her first volunteer experience at the young age of 15, when she and her sister volunteered their time at Central Park in 1958. That’s when she says the “bug bit

her,” and she has been involved in volunteer work ever since. In the past, she donated her time as a guild lady at Porter Memorial Hospital, a Girl Scout leader, a teacher’s aide at Northview Elementary School, PTA President, a facilitator of Parents Anonymous, and a volunteer for Prevent Child Abuse Porter County. Currently, she is chair of the board for both The Caring Place and the Porter County Museum. She is also involved with Sparking the Arts and the Women’s Fund of Porter County, both of which are under the Porter County Community Foundation. She has also spent much of her career, both professional and volunteer, being involved in gender issues, which led to her previous work with the American Men’s Studies Association and developing the first men’s studies course in the Purdue system while she was a professor at PNC.

Honored to be receiving this award, Urschel draws attention away from herself and toward the legacy of service that came before her. “When I look at ‘Legacy of Service’, I look at the past and the future. This legacy has come to me as it comes to many— from those who have good work in the past— and it’s my duty to continue that until it’s time to pass it on to the next group of people who do good work.” She describes this as “the heart of a volunteer. None of us have gotten to be where we are without the help of other people. We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants, as we should, in life.”

The ability to work and interact with people in the non-profit sector is one of Urschel’s favorite parts of volunteering. “They have been some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. By volunteering, I get to experience the kindness of my own heart, which we don’t always get to do in this world.” While she is extremely appreciative to many who have helped her achieve this award, there are simply too many people to name. “I am thankful to be where I am now and to have reached this point in my life. I’d like to thank everybody ahead of me- all of those people who do non-profit and volunteer work, because they’ve brought me to where I am, so I can do my little bit of good work before passing it on to others.”

Our community has thrived thanks to the tireless work and unending dedication of these award winners. Thank you to Beth Wrobel and Joanne Urschel for everything you have done for the city of Valparaiso.

>> CHAMBER FOCUS | SALUTE TO LEADERSHIP

“When I look at ‘Legacy of Service’, I look at the past and the future. This legacy has come to me as it comes to many— from those who have good work in the past— and it’s my duty to continue that until it’s time to pass it on to the next group of people who do good work.””

—Joanne Urschel

ValpoChamber.org 23

NOW IN VALPARAISO158 S. Napoleon Street

Suite #107Valparaiso, IN 46383

219-308-6077


BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS>>>> BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS

ELEMENTS WINE BAR23 N Washington St, Valparaiso, IN 46383219-309-1662www.elementswinebar.comContact: Michelle Prosser, Owner

Elements Wine Bar is a unique, eclectic, fun place to learn about and taste wine. We offer over 150 different wines on our wine list, and 28 wines that we sell by the glass in our wine dispensing machine. We also offer a selection of fun wine cocktails such as house made Sangria and Frose, a delicious slushy drink made with frozen Rose. We have a nice selection of bottled beer for the customers who want something else. Throughout the month we offer tastings where guests can taste a selection of wines from a particular area, or winemaker, or possibly wines that are centered around a particular theme. This also serves as an educational outlet where area wine experts can answer questions and help guide you through the tastings.

Being a member of the Chamber has proved to be invaluable to us as a new business. From being provided with free mentors through the SCORE program to the many networking opportunities. We have benefitted enormously by being a Chamber member. Valparaiso is a fantastic town to do business in. Having a small business is no easy task and the benefits of belonging to the Chamber are really too numerous to list.

Elements Wine Bar is the first gathering place of this type in the area. We truly are a business that is passionate about our product, which happens to be wine. Our employees are each,

in their own way, pursuing an education in wine, whether it’s through programs such as the Guild of Sommeliers, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, or the Society of Wine Educators. We are striving to be best in our field, and one of the main ways that we hope to accomplish that is by investing in our employees’ education.

I believe that as a business owner I have a responsibility to my employees, to my customers and to the community that we live in to be the best that we can be.

KELSEY’S STEAK & SEAFOOD2300 Morthland Dr, Valparaiso, IN 46383219-465-4022www.kelseyssteakhouse.comPeggy Hood, OwnerContact: Anna Peters

We’re a steakhouse featuring prime rib, char-grilled steaks and fresh seafood. Named number one steakhouse in Indiana, Kelsey’s has been in business for 30 years.

Being a chamber member is huge to me. Valpo is such a family town. The exposure and connections through the chamber keeps Kelsey’s on the forefront and growing. We are the only area restaurant that cooks all of our steaks on charcoal. We work with large parties to meet their needs. Our restaurant can seat 346 people and our private room can hold 60.

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BUSINESS SNAPSHOTS>>

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Business Snapshot businesses are randomly selected among Chamber Members related to the overall theme of the Magazine issue. These member businesses are all owned and/or operated by women.

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MOVING PLACES MOVE MANAGEMENT 1151 Southpoint Circle, Ste G, Valparaiso, IN 46385 219-462-3221www.movingplaces.orgContact: Nicki Husiar, Owner

Moving Places is a full service moving company. We do residential and corporate move management. We specialize in senior move management and downsizing. We also do estate sale and liquidation services. Networking through the chamber helps us grow. We are certified senior move managers.

We are proud to be a women owned company that has been thriving for over 8 years. We are members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM). We own our own moving trucks and trailers. We are licensed, insured, and bonded. We do local and long distance moving.

Our many services include:Timelines Space-planningSorting Professional packingMoving Unpack and settleEstate/ liquidation Clean outs

RE/MAX PACE REALTY57 S Michigan Ave, Ste 201, Valparaiso IN 46383219-476-0505 Office: 219 464-2121 minakshighuman.com homesbypace.com Minakshi Ghuman, Associate BrokerContact person for general public: Donna Pace, Broker/Owner

I have been in real estate for 27 years. My motto is to use my Education and Experience and couple them with Caring and Compassion in working with clients as well as all others involved in the transactions. Over the years I have worked with many clients who became friends as well as friends who became clients. The backbone of my business are repeat clients and their referrals. I make myself available to help with much more than just the purchase or sale of a house. I offer my clients all sorts of information on different kinds of services. I make it a point to listen to their needs and wants.

Although I got in real estate out of necessity, because of the sudden and untimely passing away of my husband, I have grown to love it. I have had real estate transactions, in various price ranges, in Valparaiso and Porter County as well as all over Northwest Indiana.

Being a Chamber member allows me to connect and network with new people who I otherwise might not have met or worked with. I have also been able to introduce new members, whose businesses benefit from the exposure they get from membership. The Chamber helps me stay up-to-date on city government, events and improvements happening around us. During my 27 years as a member, I have found the Chamber to be a good venue to get help for the many non-profits I support and have met many members who share my values.


Congratulations, Beth Wrobel! 2017 Distinguished Commmunity Leader and HealthLinc CEO

TO IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITYEmpowering Women

Call 1-888-580-1060 or visit healthlincchc.org today!

HealthLinc has 270 employees, and 84% are women! Women hold approximately 75% of the leadership roles, including:

4 Site Managers • 7 Senior Team Members • 23 Nurse Practitioners

>> CHAMBER ANNIVERSARIES

YearsMartin Binder Jewelers

YearsElwood Staffing Services, Inc.M & S Collision Center, Inc.

YearsChandana Pointe Apartments

YearsHines & Sons, Inc.Martin Security Systems, Inc.McMillan Law Offices, PCPeoples BankShirley Heinze Land Trust, Inc.Riverstone Financial AdvisorsRealty ExecutivesHolladay Properties

YearsBedzzz DirectBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices BurgerhausCentury 21 Affiliated (Allen)Executive Realty (Albertson)Four Winds Casino ResortHealthi PawsHomenclatureMerrill Lynch Wealth ManagementMoving Places Move Management, LLCPanoramaNow Porter County MuseumStacks Bar & GrillStrack & Van Til Food Market

25

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A showcase of member investors who have demonstrated ongoing commitment

ValpoChamber.org 27

FOUR VALPARAISO LOCATIONS 1STSOURCE .COM/BUSINESS

1st Source is committed to helping you grow by focusing on your business’s unique

financial needs. Call us at 219 476-2601.

We can help.

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Congratulations, Beth Wrobel! 2017 Distinguished Commmunity Leader and HealthLinc CEO

TO IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITYEmpowering Women

Call 1-888-580-1060 or visit healthlincchc.org today!

HealthLinc has 270 employees, and 84% are women! Women hold approximately 75% of the leadership roles, including:

4 Site Managers • 7 Senior Team Members • 23 Nurse Practitioners

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

JOANNE URSCHEL 2017 LEGACY OF SERVICE AWARD

FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT THE POCO MUSE


www.ufsc.com

Serving the Electrocoat Industry worldwide since 1977

A comprehensive approach to employers with job-related health needs NEW LOCATION! VALPARAISO 2307 LaPorte Avenue • Suite 8

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CONTROL MEDICAL COSTS AND KEEP EMPLOYEES HEALTHY

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NEEDS MET WITH CONVENIENT HOURS

Monday - Saturday 8AM - 6PM

(219) 464-7073 WorkingWell.org

RSVP by March 1, 2018 [email protected] 219.464.5313valpo.edu/grad

Employers increasingly value the problem solving, critical thinking, and technical skills that graduate-level education provides. More than 20% of open jobs in the U.S. prefer graduate-level education while only 11% of the population holds an advanced degree.

We invite you to visit campus to learn more about pursuing one of 40 master’s or certificate programs.

• Learn more about applying and paying for graduate studies.• Review our program offerings and class format.• Enjoy lunch in the Harre Union with faculty and students.• Receive a free application fee waiver!

March 17, 201810:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. CST, optional tours begin at 1 p.m. Harre Union - Brown and Gold Room

VISIT VALPO






VISIT VALPO






VISIT VALPO






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VISIT VALPO


AROUNDTOWN

AROUND TOWN is an important element to the local business coverage of Valparaiso Magazine. Submissions by chamber member businesses only. Articles are business announcements - i.e. awards, new additions to staff or promotion of title, and change of business location. Sales promotions, advertisements, or coupon ads may not be accepted. Submissions must be 130 words or less, are subject to approval, and may be edited.

Send to [email protected]

Two thriving local Boys & Girls Clubs organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (BGCPOCO) and Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana (BGCNWI) will be merging into one organization, serving more kids and expanding its transformational programs and services. Ryan Smiley, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, will continue to lead

the merger, as the newly appointed president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the new organization. Smiley officially assumed the new responsibilities on January 1, 2018. With the merger, the new organization will be in the top 2% of all Boys & Girls Clubs in the United States based on the number of facilities and members served during the school year. The combined organization is expected to serve more than 10,000 youth and teen members annually throughout Northwest Indiana. Smiley has served as interim president and CEO of BGCNWI since October of 2016, which serves members at six clubs in Lake County.

Ever wonder who is writing those captions on your television or who that is tapping on a machine at the front of a court room? The answer is a specially trained person called a COURT REPORTER. The College of Court Reporting (CCR) has trained court reporters around the world for over 30 years and is now teaching students in a beautifully renovated building in downtown Valparaiso. From becoming one of the first colleges to offer court reporting

online to developing state-of-the-art educational software, CCR has created a learning environment to enable its students to thrive. CCR offers the education you want with the quality you deserve with classes starting every 6-8 weeks. Visit us online at www.ccr.edu or call or text Nicky Rodriquez for more information, 219-576-6638.

Brock Lloyd of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Valparaiso has achieved the professional designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®. Lloyd successfully completed the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, or CRPC®, Professional Education Program from the Denver-based College for Financial Planning. Those who complete the program, pass a final exam, and sign a code of ethics and disclosure form earn the CRPC® designation. This advanced training program focuses on the pre- and post-retirement needs of individuals. Study topics include principles of retirement planning, sources of retirement income, employer-sponsored plans, deferred compensation plans, plan distributions, investment strategies during retirement and planning for incapacity, disability and long-term care.

Gratz Opus 118 welcomes Nicholas DeHenes to our teaching family. Nicholas is a 3rd year music education major at Valparaiso University. His specialty is percussion (including drum set), but he can teach a variety of instruments. Call 219-462-4573 to get more information and to sign up for lessons!

>> AROUND TOWN

The Board and Staff of Junior Achievement of Chicago, NWI Division, are thrilled to announce our Second Annual Gala. The Avalon Manor in Merrillville will be transformed on Friday, February 23rd into a magical Winter Wonderland for the JA Prom. So, dust off your dancing shoes and join us for an evening of fun and surprises! JA provides unique learning experiences for students in grades K-12. These programs strengthen students’ awareness of three critical pillars: Financial Literacy, Work Readiness, and Entrepreneurship. Last school year, we were in over 2,000 classrooms in Lake and Porter County, reaching over 49,000 students! You can make a difference for these students, by attending this signature event as an event sponsor, or reserving a seat and joining us in celebrating the success of Junior Achievement in NWI! Contact Junior Achievement of Chicago at 219-263-9843 for more information.

At Lake City Bank, we know that no two businesses are the same. That’s why we offer the products, services and resources to build the banking solution that’s right for you. On average, our business bankers each have more than two decades of Indiana banking experience, and 90% of the loans we approve are business-related. We understand businesses, and we have all the resources and tools you need to manage your business economically, efficiently and simply. Contact Todd Bruce at (574) 855-5090 or [email protected] for more information.

At Sibo & Associates, we focus on individuals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses helping clients take on a range of issues through our advisory, accounting, tax, and business valuation services. We apply our deep financial acumen and project-management skills to all matters related to

corporate finance, financial and management accounting, business and personal taxes, business strategy/planning, and business valuations. Our founder, Tom Sibo is a Certified Public Accountant and Accreditation in Business Valuation by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has 15 years of experience helping individuals and companies resolve their most difficult financial challenges. He graduated (cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame with a Master of Business Administration and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

The Physical Therapy Clinic at the Valparaiso Family YMCA can help verify insurance

coverage and referral requirements.

Call 219-286-3890 for more information.

Recovering from orthopedic surgery, sports-related injury or a neurological condition that requires therapy? St. Mary Medical Center and the Valparaiso Family YMCA offer Physical and Aquatic Therapy services in one convenient location.

comhs.org 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr. Valparaiso

valpoymca.org

Physical Therapy

St. Mary Medical Center Physical Therapy at the Valparaiso Family YMCA

BETTERTOGETHER

Physical Therapy

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ValpoChamber.org 33


>> A LOOK BACK>> A LOOK BACK

By Kevin Pazour

“What distinguishes the real actor from the pseudo is the passionate desire to know what is going on in the hearts and minds of people.” Famed Hollywood actress Beulah Bondi, who made her childhood theatrical debut at Valparaiso’s Memorial Opera House, lived her words on and off of the stage.

Bondi was born in Chicago, but spent her childhood and college days in Valparaiso. The daughter of Abraham and Eva Bondy, she resided at 203 N. Washington Street, where Trinity Lutheran Church is now located.

It was during her father’s tenure as manager of the Memorial Opera House that Beulah debuted on stage as Little Lord Fauntleroy in 1896. She later returned to the Memorial Opera House during

Beulah BondiFrom Valparaiso’s Memorial Opera House to

HOLLYWOOD

Bondi & Bertha Stalbaum at the PoCo Muse, 1976

Bondi as Little Lord

Fauntleroy, 1896

ValpoChamber.org 35

>> A LOOK BACK

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her studies at Valparaiso University, playing a debutante in An American Citizen. It was at this time that Bondi found a niche in playing older, motherly characters.

Beulah made her Broadway debut in Kenneth S. Webb’s One of the Family on December 21, 1925. It was Bondi’s performance in Elmer Rice’s Street Scene, which opened on January 10, 1929, that made her career. This famous Broadway play brought Bondi to the movies at the advanced age of 43 when she made her motion picture debut in the 1931 film adaptation. It was within this time period that Beulah changed her last name from Bondy to Bondi so that all the letters in her name fit above the line on theater marquees.

Publicity still of Bondi & her co-star victor Moore from the 1973 film

“Make Way for Tomorrow.”

Bondi won two Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations for The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) and Of Human Hearts (1938), although critics consider her role as a mother abandoned by her children in Leo McCarey’s Depression-era melodrama Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), as her best. However, Beulah’s four different roles as Jimmy Stewart’s mother – most notably as Ma Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – gained her the most notoriety.

After making 65 films on the silver screen, Bondi turned to television in the 1960s. Beulah’s work on the small screen culminated in winning a 1977 Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series Emmy Award for her portrayal as Aunt Martha Walton on The Waltons (1976).

Beyond her stellar reputation as a world-class character actress, Beulah was known locally for never forgetting her old hometown. Valparaiso University recognized Bondi with Beulah Bondi

Day in 1976 and an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1978. During one of

her final visits prior to her passing in 1981, Beulah jokingly said, “Someday I’ll come back and act. Until then, I’ll be here in spirit – and probably haunt you all!” One doesn’t have to look beyond the stage of the Memorial Opera

House to know the spirit of Beulah Bondi is alive and well today.

36 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018 >> B

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>> OUR CORNER

If you look across the country and compare each chamber to one another, you will find that no two chambers are the same. Some programs and events work for one that would never work for another. One benefit in being so different from each other is that if there is something you do that is working really well, other chambers reach out to learn how to duplicate it and adapt it for their own.

For us here at the Valpo Chamber, one of the sought after success stories is our gift certificate program. This program has been very successful for several years, but has seen tremendous growth in the past five years.

If you haven’t heard of our gift certificate program, here is how it works. Simply come to our office, or call us, or visit our website, and place your order for a gift certificate that can be used at over 140 Valpo Chamber member businesses. They can be purchased in any amount. We do, however, recommend lower amounts because the certificate does not offer a cash back

benefit. Each certificate must be used in its entirety in one transaction. Once purchased, you can give them as a gift to anyone to use. It is the perfect gift because you don’t need to know exactly where the recipient will use it. If they want to treat themselves to a nice dinner at a

participating downtown restaurant, or if they want to use it at the grocery store, or even to fill their tank of gas, there are so many options.

Of course December is the busiest month for gift certificate sales because of the holidays, but it isn’t just people purchasing for friends and family. We see an increase each year in business owners buying for their employees, parents purchasing for teacher gifts, and employees buying for bosses. A few years ago, there was a local business owner who had an employee who was experiencing some issues with his car. The employer was able to purchase a Valpo Chamber gift certificate for the exact amount of the car repair to help the employee

with the cost. There are so many reasons to purchase one of our certificates.

The Valpo Chamber gift certificate can also be purchased as part of three local scripts programs at St. Paul Catholic School, Immanuel Lutheran School, and St. Pat Catholic School in Chesterton.

When looking at the numbers, it is amazing how successful this program has become over the past few years. In 2011 we sold 5,800 certificates, and that has increased to over 9,800 certificates totaling over $200,000 in 2016. And all of that money stays local!

So if you are looking for the perfect gift for anyone that is in and around Valparaiso, make sure you think about a Valpo Chamber gift certificate. Be sure to call me if you have any questions.

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Sue Stymiest has been the Resource Director at the Valpo Chamber for six years. Previously, she was employed by the Valparaiso Community Schools as an instructional assistant at Flint Lake Elementary for nine years. Stymiest attended DePaul University, with a concentration in Business, and the Harrington College of Design focusing on Interior Decorating. Stymiest, an avid photographer, takes many of the event photographs for the Valpo Chamber as well as photos from around town that have been featured on the chamber’s map and website. Originally from Chicago, Stymiest resides in Valparaiso with her family.

VALPO CHAMBER GIFT CERTIFICATE PROGRAMKEEPS MONEY LOCAL

Come to our office, call us, or visit our website to place your order for a gift certificate that can be used at over 140 Valpo Chamber member businesses.

KEEPING

L CALthe Money

By Sue Stymiest

Ahna Dunn (SAE), [email protected]

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOU DO.

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Combining the unique strengths of Porter Regional’s Health At Work and La Porte Hospital’s Occupational Health programs.

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represent - valpo chamber · affair. “my son and husband are very supportive and accompany me on...

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